New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-08
PRICE THREE CENTS

grandfathcrs when they guarded themselves against
successful attack from the ornaments Of that
day We don't necessarily exEect q burglar because
we lock our doors at night. but if by any possi-
bility burglar comes it contributes vastly TO our
peace of mind and our sound sleep to feel that
he can't get in"
HOUSES AND FARMS PAY TOO MUCH TAX.
But after the Notifications should be con-
structed would you still maintain the tax on
whskcy?"
YES said Mr.. Blaine, so long as there is
whisl1ey to tax 1 would tax it. and when the
National Government should have no use for the
money l would divide the tax among the Federal
Unicn with the specific object of tightening tho
tax real estate. The houses and farms OF tho
whole country pay too large proportion of the
total taxes. If ultimately relief could be given
in that direction it would, in my Judgment, be
q wise and bcncfccnt policy. Some honest but
misguided friends of temperance have urged that
the Government should not use the money derived
from the tax on whiskey. My reply is that tho
tax on wbis1cy by the Federal Government. with
its suppression of all Illicit distIlation and consc
quent enhancement of price. has been powerful
agent in the temperance reform by putting IL
beyond the reach Of many. The amount Of
whisIIey consumed in the United States per capita
to-day is not more than 40 per cent of that
consumed thirty years ago"
After few moments silence Mr. Blaine added
that in his judgment the whlskcy tax $40 id b, %
modified as to permit all who pure alcohol IN
the arts mechanici al pursuits to have free OF
tax. In all such cases the tax could be remttcd
without dagger of fraud, just as now the tax
on spirits exported is remlted.
Besides your general and weeping opposition
to the Presidents recommendation have You any
further specific objection |"
wOOL-GRowERs MUST BE PROTECTED
"Yes' answered Mr. Blaine Il should seriously
object to the repeal of the duty wool. To
repeal that would work great injustice 10
many interests and would seriously dis
courage what we should earnestly encourage
namely, the sheep culture among farmers through
ont the Union To break down wool-growing and
be dependent foreign countries for the blanket
under which we sleep and ;he coat that covers
our backs is not a wise policy for the National
Government to enforce"
ado you think If the Presidents recommcnda-
ton were adopted it would increase our export
trade 20
Possibly in some few articles of peculiar con-
struction it might bat it would increase our
import trade ten fold much in tho
great staple fabrics in wooIlen and co..
ton goods. III iron, in steel, in all
the thousand and one shapes in which they arc
wrought. How are TO export staple fabrics to
the markets of Europe unless we maze them
cheaper than they do in Europe, and how are
we to manufacture them chcaper than they do
in Europe unless we get cheaper labor than
| tn oy have in EurOpeV
THE LABOR QCEsrtON-Ir' VITAL IMPORTANCE
| Then you think that the question of labor
underles the whole subjcctl' "Of course It doe','
replied Mr. Blaine. 1T Is. in fact the entire ques-
| ton Whenever we can force carpenters, mlson'.
| Ironworkers and mechanics III every department TO
work as cheaply aud live poorly in the United
states as similar wOrllmen i'll Europe, We car OF
course manufacture just as cheaply rs the do IN
! England and France. But | an totally O2p)ei o
a policy that would entail such results. Toa.temDt
ii Is equivalent TO social and financial reyoI Ition,
one that would bring un Oil distress
Yes. but might not the great farming { ass bs
benefited by importing articles from Europe IL
stead Of buying them at higher prices at ho ns!"
"rhc moment answered M Blame. voI b. p
gin TO import freely from Europe yoL drive cHr
| own workmcn from mechanical and mppuiac.ur-
ing pursuits. In the same proportion they bcco b
tlllcrs of the soil, increasing steadily the agIca
ural product and decreasing steadily the larg,
| home demand which is constantly ellar-la- as
home manufacturers eniarse That, ot coats",
works great ninry 10 the fWmsr. gnttlnE .,
market with his products and tending cuus;a.iy
| to lower prices.
WHAT WOULD BECOME OF THE FARMrE'l
Yes but the foreign demand for farm products
would be increased in like rl'Io. would 1t mo-!
Even suppose it were' sald Mr.. Blaine, low
do YOU know the source from wh.ch il VII
,;,s L rf, ,
the Asiatic possessions of England Is toward ar.o
increase Of the gram supply the grain being rN"i
by the cheapest possible labor Manufacturer;
countrle, will buy tIcr bread>tutf, whore th'rc cll
| get them cheapest and the ellarging OF the I)G,
| market for the American farmer beng chc,l't ne
would search ia VAN for one Of the SAN wac
Ills foreign saes are areaiy checked by tn Gf-at
competition abroad. There never wl;a time Wnea
the incre tse of large no ne mirkct was 50 Ylla-
bic to him. The best poo. is tha' th' fdrm'f' AZ
prosperous in proportion to the nclrheNS OF IN tiu-
featuring centres and a pr0tectIvc tlrn tents %
sprcad manufacturers In Ohio and India IA. f)r
example. though not caSscl as mnutic ur%g
States the aunnal valu' %! fnorlc' Is larref iaAl
the annual vau, Of agIcul.uT products"
THE TARIFF OF 1916 AND ITS RESULTS.
"But those holding tIc Pf c,dcnt's view. re-
marked ther,portcr. are always quoting tue goat
prosperity of III, coIatN uhdcr tAo tdrh ot
! l~l6.'
THAT tar.h did not ipvD,ye the one destructive
point rccom,n,udci by IA" l'rsSid 'nt. namel' n,
retaining of d:rect internal taN's n orl,r T. an
! ism indirect taxes levied ou foreign fabtic>. Bl5
the country had pecuilar advantages undr: 1t oy
! thc Gilman war involving England. France slI
| Russia ami largely lniplrins their trade AL tHei,
! melG,rts or accidents, If you choose, were In
/ mcnsclv stimulating 10 trade III the Chitei
! states regardless of the nature of oar tarIt
! But mark the end of this European
cxpericAco with the tarl Of 1915, which Tor a
time gave an illu>orY and deceptive show oi pros
| pcrity Its ena ,tmGmt was Immediately iolio"ed
| bv the Mexican wars then in 1918 by the great
convulsIoos of Europe: then in 1919 and succeed
inc vc,rs by the enormous gold yield in California.
/ nd af M